Adjustable retractable tool



May 26, 1942.

IHHI

R. J. RICKENBACHER ADJUSTABLE RETRACTABLE TOOL Filed May 5, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS May 26, 1942. R. J. RICKENBACHER I ADJUSTABLERETRACTABLE TOOL Filed May 3, 1959 2 5heets -Sheet 2 Fig. .12

l N VENT'OR- Rd fIICKE/VBACHER 5 Y PM A 7' TORNEYS Patented May 26, 1942ADJUSTABLE RETRACTABLE TOOL Robert J. Rickenbacher, Columbus, Ohio,assignor to The Kilgore Mfg. Company, Westerville, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application May 3, 1939, Serial No. 271,543

7 Claims.

My invention relates to tools, instruments, and the like. Moreparticularly the invention concerns an improvement in devices such asnail files, knives, awls, scissors, saws, keys, and the like handoperated tools wherein the device is retractably sheathed in the handleof the tool.

Anobject of this invention is to provide a tool or instrument of thetype aforesaid, wherein the tool is retractable longitudinally of thehandle or sheath of the tool in which it is fastened when not in use.This not only protects the tool and working surfaces thereof, but wherethe tool is carried in the pocket of clothing, fabric, or when packagedor otherwise covered, the sharp surfaces of the tool or instrument areprevented from contacting the adjacent covering and damaging the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unitary constructedtool wherein the working tool member is arranged to be positivelyengaged and forced out of or retracted into the handle or sheath portionthereof.

Another object is to provide an improved device of this characterwherein the working blade or tool may be extended to one or morepositions and locked against'movement' after so positioning.

Another object is to provide a hand tool of pleasing appearance and inwhich can be interchangeably mounted difierent kinds of tool blades, asdesired.

Still another object-is to provide an instrument comprising a workingtool member which can be readily manipulated by the hand to unlock theblade and move it into position for use,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on' the line 8-8 ofFigure '7;

Figure 9 is a similarcross sectional view as shown in Figure 8,illustrating a modification wherein the working tool member isdetachable from the handle member;

Figure 10 is a pictorial View of a portion of the handle member shown inFigures 1 and 2, wherein a positive locking means is provided forretaining the working tool in retracted position in the handle; 7

Figures 11, 12 and 13 illustrate the various types of instruments orworking tools which are adapted for use with this invention;

Figure 14 is a pictorial view of a fragmentary portion of a tool madeaccording to my invention wherein a spring pressed button member isemployed for positioning the tool blade;

' Figure 15 is a vertical section view of the form shown in Figure 14,illustrating the particular arrangement of the parts of this improvedconstruction.

and whereby the instrument is automatically locked in position uponrelease of pressure against the tool blade moving member.

A further object is to provide a retractable tool of improvedconstruction wherein a spring pressed button, attached to the tool bladeand slidably retained in the sheath-like handle, forms the means formoving and holding the tool blade firmly in any desired position.

In the accompanying drawings:'

Figure 1 is an enlarged pictorial view of a nail Referring to thedrawings in detail, the numeral l designates the tool handle or sheathportion of the device, which may be made of synthetic plastic materials,synthetic resin, shell, bone, glass, ivory, wood, metal, or any othersuitable-material. v The working tool member 2 is secured tothe handle Iso as to be reciprocable forward and backward through an opening 3formed in one end of the handle portion l. This opening will be ofsufl'lcient size and shape to accommodate the working tool means. Therear portion of the-tool 2; is slidably vmounted in the groove 4 formedlongitudinally of the handle I, as shown file embodyingmy'invention',wherein the file riveting. or suitable fastening means 6 passes andwhich extends through the handle being engaged in the slot 1 formed inthe central bottom part of the groove 4. The width'of the slot in theouter ends 9 engage the tool blade 2, as

shown in Figures 6 and 7.

'At the opposite end of the member is prov vided a head member ID. Theunder side of the head member engages the outer surface H of the handleor sheath l adjacent the longitudinal slot 1. Countersunk portions l2.ofa size and shape to 'fitthe head ID are formed at different places alongthe surface ll adjacent the groove 1. This provides a means of lockingthe ,working tool member in different positions; Alternatively headlocking. means may be. pro.- vided at the extremities of. the slot I andat'the middle, as shown in Figure 10, or only at one end andintermediate the ends, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It will beappreciated that the positioning of the head retaining. depressions I2may be varied as desired. I

To enhance the manipulation of the tool what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a unitary working tool andtool-receiving handle therefor, said handle having'a longitudinalgrooveon one side in which said tool is adapted to reciprocate, meanscomprising an elongated slot on the opposite side and of less .widththan said groove in communication with the groove, and pin meansinterlocked with said groove and slot and passing through the endportion of said working, tool retained in the handle, and. meanscomprising a button fastened to one end of said pin and.

, slidably operable in said groove of the handle for the face of .thespring member 8 is preferablyprovided with a central transversecountersunk;

portion 13 to which the fastening means 6 is suitably attached as byforcefitting or riveting, as shown in Figures 6 and 7;

In Figure 9 the fastening means 6 is removably attached to the member 8bymeans of the collar 14 and nut l threaded onto the end of the member6. This construction permits the interchanging of various working tools,such as illustrated in Figures 11, 12 and 13. In these figures the knifeblade-l6, saw I I and scissors l8 are adapted to be formedor otherwisemount?" ed on a.suitable extension member'which may be interchangeablyattached to the fastening means 6 so as to be retractable into i asillustrated in Figure 3.

It will be observedthatreciprocation of the tool blade is accomplishedby applying pressure to the spring member 8 to disengage the head member10 so that it can be moved along the longitudinal. slot 1 to the desiredposition where upon releasing the pressure from the spring member 8 thefastening means 6 will be drawn to one side so that the head'member It]will engage in the locking slot 12 so as to lock the tool 7 blade inthat position.

In the tool construction illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 the springmember 8 (Figures 6 and 7) is replaced by a button [9 which is suitablyfastened to the end of the bolt member 6 by riveting or upsetting theend of the bolt .over as at'ZEI (Figure 15).'

'Ihebutton I9 may be formed of any desired wv material. such as wood;metal, resin or the like. Preferably it is formed of a moldable plasticcomposition which can be readily shaped to an desired form and hardened.

The member I9 is preferably provided with a countersunk portion 2| foraccommodating the expanded'upset bolt end portion 20. A compressionspring 22 is disposedaround the bolt between the tool blade 2 and-the'button 19. The spring is extended into a cylindrical cavity 23 thehandle there-- adjustably positioning said working tool with respect tosaid handle.

- 2.. As an article of manufacture, a unitary working tool and atool-receiving handle therefor, said handle having a groove on one sideextending-longitudinally of said handle in which said tool is adapted toslide,v slot means of less width than saidgroove in the opposite side ofsaid handle and'communicating with said groove, pin means positionedtransversely of the longitudinal axis [of said handle working in saidgroove and slot and extending through a portion of said to'ol for'adjustably positioning the work- 'ing tool with respect. to saidhandle, said slot having spaced depressions foraccommodating an integralhead member on said pin means,

and button means connected to'theopposite end of said pin and yieldablyretaining said pin and working tool firmly to said handle adapted to beengaged for reciprocating the workingtool in said handle.

. ton connected to one end ofsaid rod member and shaped to engage insaid groove for moving said rod in difi'erent positions, andspring meansfor maintaining said pin and tool blade firmly to said handle... j

4. As an article of manufacture, a longitudinally movable working toolblade member, a slotted handleassociated .therewithfor forming a sheathfor, said tool, pin means reciprocable in said slotandinterlocked withsaid handle and workingtoolQblade means comprising spaced de-.

pressions cooperating with one end of said pin for locking said pinmeans in difierent positions,

formed in the central body portion of the button l9 and abuts againstthe outer wall portion i 24, as illustrated in Figure 15. Spring 22yieldably maintains the tool blade 2 and slidable bolt 6 firmly to thehandle. By varying the tension in the spring member 22 the rigidity ofthe con-- struction and ease of controlled. T 1 7 It will be understood,of course, that this'invention is not limited to the exact details ofconoperation. may be readily 'struction and operation since obviousmodifications within the scope of this invention may be made by personsskilledin the art. i Having thus fully" described my invention,

springlmeans connectedto said r'eciprocable pin means and-engaging saidworking tool blade whereby said pin means can be shifted axially in saidgroove'to movethe end portion of said pin out of said depression whenlocked therein whereby said working tool blade is movable to adifi'erent position relative to said handle.

5. As an article of'manufacture, a tool' comprising a working blade andattached handle, said blade being retractable into said handle, a

groovein the handle in which said blade is slidable, pin meansinterlocked" with said groove and extending transversely of thelongitudinal axis of said handle and passing through said blade forholding said blade in different positions relative to said. handle, saidblade positioning means com- DlflSlI'lg. a button secured to. saidtransverse extending means,and yieldable means for firmly.

6. In a tool holder, a case open at one side, a

manicure-tool fitted and slidably' mounted in said case, saidmanicure-tool having an opening,

said case adapted to hold,said manicure-tool in various positions, saidcase formed with a guide slot, a plurality of retaining openings, and aguide opening, said guide slot of said case arranged to register withsaid opening of said manicure-tool to hold said manicure-tool in variouspositions and to limit the extent of the movement of said manicure-toolrelative to said case, said retaining openings of said ease arranged toregister with said guide slot of said case and with said opening of saidmanicuretool to hold said manicure-tool in various positions and tolimit the extent of the movement of said manicure-tool relative to saidcase, said guide opening of said case having its wall adapted to retainand hold said manicure-tool in various positions relative to said case,a fastener movable and adapted to hold the part together, said fastenerpassing through either of said retaining openings and through said guideslot of said case and through said opening of said manicure-tool, saidfastener having its head fitted for engagement with either of saidretaining openings of said case, and a resilient retainer engaging withsaid fastener, said resilient retainer adapted for and capable ofretaining all parts seated and under tension in any position permittingquick release and adjustment to hold said manicure-tool either withdrawnwithinsaid case or in its adjusted positions for use.

7. Ina tool holder, a case open at one side, a manicure-tool fitted andslidably mounted in said ,case, said manicure-tool having an opening,said case adapted to hold said manicure-tool in various positions, saidcase formed with a guide slot, a plurality of retaining openings, and aguide opening, said guide slot of said case arranged to register withsaid opening of said manicure-tool to hold said manicure-tool in variouspositions and to limit the extent of the movement of said manicure-toolrelative to said case, said retaining openings of said ease arranged toregister with said guide slot of said case and with said opening ofSaidmanicuretool to hold said manicure-tool in various positions and tolimit the extent of the movement of said manicure-tool relative to saidcase, said guide opening of said case having its wall adapted to retainand hold said manicure-tool in various positions relative to said case,a fastener movable and adapted to hold the parts together, said fastenerpassing through either of said retaining openings and through said guideslot of v said case and through said opening of said manicure-tool, saidfastener having its head fitted for engagement with either of saidretaining openings of'said case, and a retainer having its shankthreaded on said fastener, said retainer adapted for and capable ofretaining all parts locked against movement in any position permittingquick release and adjustment to lock and hold said manicure-tool eitherwithdrawn within said case or in its adjusted positions for use.

ROBERT J. RICKENBACHER.

